Educating Youth

Schools and youth-serving programs can provide key venues for youth to learn about disaster preparedness and response. Research suggests that trainings focused on disaster preparedness can result in behavior changes, and that youth who are prepared are more confident and feel empowered during an actual emergency.¹ Further, youth involved in multiple educational programs targeted at hazard education have been found to have significantly more knowledge about disasters and disaster preparedness than youth who participated in just one program.²

Important considerations for educating and preparing youth for disasters:

• Be realistic: The use of scare tactics has been found to be an ineffective approach for disaster preparation.³ In contrast, providing realistic information about disasters and coping mechanisms has been found to be an effective approach. Specifically, researchers found that youth with unrealistic disaster risk perceptions were more likely to be afraid of disasters, believe less in their ability to cope, and be less aware of protective behaviors in comparison to youth with more realistic perceptions.⁴ Further, providing youth with opportunities to become familiar with police officers and emergency personnel can minimize fear or uncertainty. Therefore youth preparedness programs that enable first responders to work with youth can help to cultivate positive relationships and help youth to understand that first responders play a positive role in their communities.⁵
• Be youth-focused: Programs should focus on youth needs, include their voices, and delineate the role that youth play in a disaster. The focus should not be the same for youth and adults. Programs should use age-appropriate instructional practices.⁶
• Be creative: Utilizing creative methods that include the use of interactive visual aids and opportunities where youth can be actively involved in experiential learning have been found to be related to knowledge of preparedness.⁷
• Integrate into the curriculum: Disaster preparedness can be integrated into school curricula across subject matter. Disaster preparedness can be incorporated into science, history, economics, social studies, language arts, and mathematics courses. Teachers can also incorporate real world events to teach about disasters and emergency situations.⁸
• Engage families: Youth preparedness programs should promote interaction between youth and their families. For example, programs can help to ensure families have developed disaster preparedness plans and kits, and that youth are involved and knowledgeable about these efforts.⁹ Learn more about what schools, youth programs, and families can do to plan for disasters.

Tools for Youth Preparedness Programs

FEMA Youth Preparedness Technical Assistance Center
This Technical Assistance Center is available to assist youth preparedness practitioners and is accessible via FEMA-Youth-Preparedness@fema.dhs.gov.

Resources

Children and Disasters Newsletter
The Children and Disasters Newsletter contains updates about various youth-related initiatives, research, and events, and is available to anyone interested in topical updates related to youth preparedness. To subscribe to the newsletter, please visit the registration page.

Technical Assistance
FEMA provides technical assistance directly to youth preparedness practitioners who request tools, information, and advice about program implementation, as well as others who have general questions about youth preparedness. The Technical Assistance Center is accessible via FEMA-Youth-Preparedness@fema.dhs.gov.

Ready.gov
This site provides information and resources about disasters and disaster preparedness. It includes a section focused on kids, an interactive site with kid-friendly information, activities, and games focused on disaster preparedness, including making a plan and assembling disaster preparedness kits. It also includes resources and information for parents and teachers to support disaster preparedness education.

American Red Cross and FEMA: Helping Children Cope with Disaster (PDF, 12 pages)
This booklet was created to assist parents and caregivers in helping youth cope with disasters and emergencies. The guide also provides information on preparing family emergency plans and discussing these plans with youth.

Teen CERT: Community Emergency Response Team
The Teen CERT training program teaches youth readiness and response skills. Hands-on practice and realistic exercises prepare youth for the unexpected in their community. Newly learned leadership skills will empower youth to safely respond to an emergency and assist victims without endangering themselves or others.

The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center
The REMS Technical Assistance Center supports public and non-public schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education in school emergency management, including the development and implementation of comprehensive all-hazards emergency management plans. The TA Center disseminates information about school emergency management to help individual schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education learn more about developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive, all-hazards school emergency management plans.

CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response Website
This website is CDC’s primary source of information and resources for preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. This site continues to keep the public informed about public health emergencies and provides the information needed to protect and save lives. The site features specific information and resources focused on different types of disasters including chemical emergencies and natural disasters. 

References